Chicago political prognosticators, instigators, spectators and voters are already besotted with the Feb. 26 mayoral election.
The election scheduled just six weeks away? Not so much.
Voters could be complacent about November and distracted by February. For Democrats, that’s a dangerous combination. […]
In recent weeks, voters have been hearing a lot about lopsided polls at the top of the Nov. 6 ticket. […]
Pritzker has bagged this race, they might conclude. Why bother to vote?
It’s a fact that the city’s political reporters and their editors are so heavily focused on the mayor’s race that they’re ignoring the statewide and legislative contests, other than horse-race stuff.
However, Mayor Richard M. Daley set off a huge media bomb when he announced his retirement eight years ago and the incumbent Democratic governor still managed to win despite a national GOP wave.
What’s really dominating coverage, though, is the stuff out of Washington, DC. Lots of folks are up in arms about the national political situation and November is their first general election opportunity to express that anger. As long as the election is nationalized, turnout should be pretty good.
…Adding… Pritzker campaign…
Today, the Pritzker campaign released a new digital ad, “Day In The Life,” highlighting the gloomy news cycles Illinoisans are living through with a failed governor in office.
Turns out, it’s unpopular when a governor fails to do his job and pass a budget for over two years. Bruce Rauner’s approval rating has tanked, he’s been named both the Worst Republican Governor in America, and the nation’s most vulnerable incumbent running for re-election.
===the city’s political reporters and their editors are so heavily focused on the mayor’s race===
There are a lot of local activists running for Alderman already going door-to-door. The November election will be a trial run for February and these various local campaigns will test their ability to generate turnout. The handful of ward organizations that can produce votes are doing the same. All in all, I think turnout will be quite high in the city in November regardless of how distracted the news media is. It’s a good time to be a freelance field operative. If you’re any good, you can almost name your price.
If anything, and especially with the national craziness, voters will be numb by February.
===As long as the election is nationalized, turnout should be pretty good.===
True.
I’d add Pritzker’s field offices and spending $207K a day, which includes GOTV… Dems *should* be “okay” but it’ll be up to that ground game how good they will be in the end.
===Turns out, it’s unpopular when a governor fails to do his job and pass a budget for over two years. Bruce Rauner’s approval rating has tanked, he’s been named both the Worst Republican Governor in America, and the nation’s most vulnerable incumbent running for re-election.===
There’s simply no evidence since Trump was elected that some other thing is going to distract Democratic voters. There’s no evidence for it. Even low-tier special elections without national attention get a lot of heat from Dem voters. The idea that people will skip the chance to dump Rauner is ludicrous.
Can someone send this to the CTU? It’s past time for them to get off the sidelines. That being said, the CFL phone banks are running and walks are happening.
Washington’s column fails to the see the forest for the trees. It has this feel of “all my in-the-know friends in Chicago are talking about the mayor’s race, so that must mean all dems are focused on that and not November.” If you aren’t in Chicago, who Chicago elects as mayor is a side show. If you are in Chicago, generally speaking, you aren’t watching the mayor’s race with the intensity that pundits are. Chicago is heavily dem and folks want to send a message to Trump. They will go to the polls.
- Montrose is Right - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 4:19 pm:
He hit the nail on the head. I have a large number of friends who have already told me they could care less about the Mayoral election, because a.) it’s going to amount to a runoff; and b.) that runoff will likely have one or all candidates that none of them can stomach. We’re all paying a lot of attention to the fall election though - especially the gubernatorial and AG races.
Respectfully, this is a ridiculous point, Rich. Dems are energized and will walk over glass to vote this November. Just as the GOP did in 2010 and 2014.
- Duopoly - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 11:31 am:
Complacency is a cornerstone or the Democratic party as hypocrisy is the cornerstone of the Republican party.
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 11:33 am:
–Lots of folks are up in arms about the national political situation and November is their first general election opportunity to express that anger.–
I suspect that’s going to get cranked up to 11 this week.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 11:35 am:
===the city’s political reporters and their editors are so heavily focused on the mayor’s race===
There are a lot of local activists running for Alderman already going door-to-door. The November election will be a trial run for February and these various local campaigns will test their ability to generate turnout. The handful of ward organizations that can produce votes are doing the same. All in all, I think turnout will be quite high in the city in November regardless of how distracted the news media is. It’s a good time to be a freelance field operative. If you’re any good, you can almost name your price.
If anything, and especially with the national craziness, voters will be numb by February.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 11:37 am:
===As long as the election is nationalized, turnout should be pretty good.===
True.
I’d add Pritzker’s field offices and spending $207K a day, which includes GOTV… Dems *should* be “okay” but it’ll be up to that ground game how good they will be in the end.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 11:49 am:
So many hot local and federal races. So much anger about Trump. Not concerned about a lack of enthusiasm.
- State Sen. Clay Davis - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 11:51 am:
+1 for 47th Ward. Anyone running for Alderman/Mayor/whatever who isn’t turning out Dem votes for November has already lost.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 11:53 am:
===Turns out, it’s unpopular when a governor fails to do his job and pass a budget for over two years. Bruce Rauner’s approval rating has tanked, he’s been named both the Worst Republican Governor in America, and the nation’s most vulnerable incumbent running for re-election.===
Where have I read that before?
When it’s true, facts are facts for all.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 12:15 pm:
There’s simply no evidence since Trump was elected that some other thing is going to distract Democratic voters. There’s no evidence for it. Even low-tier special elections without national attention get a lot of heat from Dem voters. The idea that people will skip the chance to dump Rauner is ludicrous.
- uknow - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 12:28 pm:
Can someone send this to the CTU? It’s past time for them to get off the sidelines. That being said, the CFL phone banks are running and walks are happening.
- Duopoly - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 12:35 pm:
=The idea that people will skip the chance to dump Rauner is ludicrous. =
As ludicrous as Donald Trump ever winning an election.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 12:45 pm:
===As ludicrous as Donald Trump ever winning an election===
He lost Illinois by 17 points.
- Plutocrat03 - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 1:20 pm:
Don’t think duopoly meant their comment as a Rep/Dem thing. Just a comment on the ethereal nature of polling and groupthink.
- Montrose - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 2:46 pm:
Washington’s column fails to the see the forest for the trees. It has this feel of “all my in-the-know friends in Chicago are talking about the mayor’s race, so that must mean all dems are focused on that and not November.” If you aren’t in Chicago, who Chicago elects as mayor is a side show. If you are in Chicago, generally speaking, you aren’t watching the mayor’s race with the intensity that pundits are. Chicago is heavily dem and folks want to send a message to Trump. They will go to the polls.
- Montrose is Right - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 4:19 pm:
He hit the nail on the head. I have a large number of friends who have already told me they could care less about the Mayoral election, because a.) it’s going to amount to a runoff; and b.) that runoff will likely have one or all candidates that none of them can stomach. We’re all paying a lot of attention to the fall election though - especially the gubernatorial and AG races.
- Mike - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 6:50 pm:
Respectfully, this is a ridiculous point, Rich. Dems are energized and will walk over glass to vote this November. Just as the GOP did in 2010 and 2014.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 10:49 pm:
Until they win, they should worry.